Device for moistening gummed labels



Sept. 7, 1954 A. W. WRAY ETAL DEVICEFOR MOISTENING GUMMED LABELS Filed NOV. 6, 1950 i hl ' INVENTORJ' Patented Sept. 7, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,688,305 DEVICE FOR MOISTENIN G GUMMED LABELS Alfred W. Wray and Morton S. Baldwin, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 6, 1950, Serial No. 194,332

g '7 Claims.

This invention relates to a moistening device for gummed labels.

It is' an object of this invention to provide a device of the type described which is designed to effectively moisten labels over the entire gummed surface thereof without wetting the label guide plate so that the ungummed side of the next label moistened in the device will not be Wetted upon contact with the guide plate.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of the novel roller and web means for applying moisture to the gummed side of the label, the roller and web being arranged for pcriodical rotation to present a fresh, moistened surface to the gummed label and so that the adhesive picked up by the web by reason of contact with the gummed face of the label can be automatically dissolved out in the reservoir which supplied the water for the wetting device.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a moistening device for gummed labels which can be adapted for use with labels gummed on either one side or both sides by simply changing the guide plate.

Further objects and advantages in the way of design, construction, and ease of operation will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a perspective view of the moistening device of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of another form of moistening device.

Fig. 4. is a detail of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2 of another form of moistening device.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a moistening device which is adapted for use with labels gummed on both sides thereof. The device generally comprises a rectangular reservoir I 0 which is preferably formed of a'plastic material. The plastic material is preferably one that can be molded and may be either transparent or translucent so that the level and the color or cloudiness of the water Within the reservoir can be observed through the side walls of the reservoir. At its upper end reservoir I0 is open and arranged to removably receive a cover member l2. Cover I2 is formed with a peripheral depending flange M which fits nicely within the side wall of reservoir Ill and with a laterally extending flange it ,which rests upon the upper edges of the side walls of the reservoir. Cover [2 is formed with an upwardly projecting convex portion l8 which extends forwardly from the rear edge of the cover and terminates in a substantially flat table portion 20. At each end cover I2 is formed with upstanding bosses 22 adjacent the ends of table.

20 and with downwardly extending recesses 24 spaced forwardly of bosses 22. The lower ends of the recesses are disposed below the level of table 20.

A roller 26, preferably formed of rubber or surfaced with rubber, is supported on an axle 28 and the axle in turn is journalled in the recesses 24. One end of axle 28 extends outwardly beyond the end of the roller a greater distance than the other end of the axle and is fitted with a knob member 30 which enables the roller to be manually rotated. An endless band or web 32 formed of felt or other absorbent material is positioned over roller 26. Band 32 has a width corresponding to the length of roller 25 and is dimensioned such that the lower end thereof hangs downwardly in the form of a closed loop into reservoir l0. Roller 26 is dimensioned in diameter such that the upper peripheral surface of band 32 is disposed at a level slightly above the plane of table 20.

Within the lower end of band 32 there is supported a weighted roller 34 which is preferably formed of a non-corrosive metal, such as brass. Roller 34 retains web 32 in a taut condition around roller 26 and increases the frictional engagement between web 32 and the upper semicylindrical surface of roller 26. Cover I2 is formed on the bottom side thereof with depending end plates 36 which are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the length of roller 34 so that the plates 38 form guide members to prevent axial displacement of roller 34. Along each vertical edge plates 36 are fashioned with inwardly extending flanges 38 which prevent lateral displacement of roller 34 and web 32.

The bosses 22 are fitted with diametrically opposed pins 40 which are engaged within the rolled rear edge 42 of a retainer and guide plate 44. Guide plate 44 is pivotally supported on pins 40 and extends forwardly therefrom to overlie roller 26 and web 32. Plate 44 is somewhat concave in cross section and has the front edge thereof turned inwardly, as at 46. A relatively thick pad of felt 48 is frictionally engaged between the rolled edges 42 and 46 on the bottom face of plate 44 so that, when the plate is pivoted to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the felt pad 48 contacts and rests upon the portion of band 32 which extends over the top of roller 26.

The device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is designed for wetting a label that is gummed on both sides thereof. Such a label is indicated at 50. The label is positioned with one edge on table 20 and is pushed in the direction of roller 26. The free edge 52 of table 2! terminates along a line adjacent the surface of band 32 so that, as the label is pushed into the device, the table guides the edge thereof between band 32 and pad 48. After the leading edge of the label has been passed outwardly from beneath guide plate 44, this exposed edge is gripped between the fingers and .on pad 68 is picked up surfaces .of the label.

the entire label is then pulled between band 32 and pad it. In this manner the label is wetted throughout the entire gummed surface thereof. After numerous labels have been wetted in this manner, the surfaces of pad Q8 and band 32 which are contacted by the gummed surface of the labels become relatively saturated with the adhesive that dissolves off of the labels. When this occurs, knob 39 may be rotated to present a fresh surface on band 32 to the cooperating surface on pad 48. By rotating roller 26, it will be observed that the fresh portions of band 32 are rubbed across the adhesive contaminated surface of pad 58 and, in this manner, the adhesive by the fresh portions of band 3?. and is dissolved out of band 32 when the band travels downwardly into the water reservoir. Thus rotation of knob 30 serves to clean not only band 32 but also pad fill so as to maintain the contacting surfaces between these members relatively clean.

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a slightly modified arrangement which is designed for wetting a label gummed on only one side. In this form of the invention the reservoir 54 and cover member 5e are substantially the same in construction as reservoir ill and cover member [2 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The essential difference in the devices shown in Figs. 1 and 3 resides in the guide plate In this form of construction guide plate 58 has a loose pivotal connection at each end thereof with pins 50. The cover plate 58 has a substantially flat portion 52 which normally overlies table 20- and a concave portion 64 which overlies and closely surrounds the upper portion of roller 26.

The concave portion 64 is retained in a concentrically spaced relation with the portion of band 32 which extends over the upper portion of roller 25 by the rolled free edge fit of plate 58 which rests upon supports 68 at each end of cover 56.

At each end guide plate 58 is formed with a depending car 69 which extends downwardly in recesses 2t and terminates just above axle 28 so that, if the roller is lifted upwardly in one or both of the recesses 2d, the axle engages the lower .ends of ears &9 to lift pivot guide plate 58 upwardly and thereby prevent contact between the guide plate and the upper run of band 32.

The device illustrated in Fig, 3 is adaptable for l wetting labels gummed on only one side and is arranged to accommodate labels of various thicknesses of paper. In this form of device the label, generally indicated at 1B, is positioned on table 2% and is pushed forwardly so that its leading edge contacts the band 32. It will be noted that roller 26 is positioned such that the extreme upper surface of band 32 is spaced at a level slightly above the plane of table 2E The free edge of label it is therefore deflected upwardly against the underside of the concave portion M of plate 58. The deflection of the free edge of the label by the band insures wetting of the leading edge of the label. Upon further movement of the label through the device, the free edge emerges from beneath the rolled edge $6 of plate 58 and the entire label may then be pulled through the device. It will be noted that the rolled edge 55 along its lower side is disposed slightly below table 26. The arcuate shape of guide plate 58 together with its cooperation with the roller 26 'which projects slightly above the level of table 2% causes the label to follow a tortuous path and therefore insures complete wetting of the gummed Furthermore, it will :be

observed, that the guide plate 58 is always spaced above and out of contact with the upper surface of band 32 and therefore the inner face of the convex portion 65 is never wetted by band 32.

In many labeling devices with which I am familiar the guide plate is wetted by the wick or the other means employed for wetting the label after the label is drawn through the device and therefore the ungummed surface of the next label becomes wet by reason of contact with the guide plate. It will also be observed that the pivotal connection between the guide plate 58 and the pins 6!) is in the form of a vertical slot '72 which enables the guide plate to rise and fall in accordance with the thickness of the particular label which is drawn through the device.

In the device illustrated in Fig. 5 the reservoir H is provided at each end with enlarged bosses 15 which form journals for the ends of the upper roller 26. The cover '68 is fashioned with an elongated opening through which the upper portion of roller 26 projects. Along one side of opening cover i8 is provided with an upstanding lip 82 and, along the opposite longitudinal edge of opening 80, the cover is fashioned with a lip 84. The guide plate 86 i fashioned with a flat portion 83 and with a downwardly embossed lip 90. Plate 88 is secured at each end to cover 18 by adjusting screws 92 which thread into the enlarged bosses 76. Guide plate 86 is arranged with the fiat portion 88 overlying the uppermost surface of band 32 and with the downwardly embossed lip 90 extending downwardly between the lip 82 and the uppermost surface of band 32. Screws 92 are arranged for vertical adjustment so that the guide plate 536 can be raised and lowered.

In practice screws 92 are adjusted for the label thickness so that the lowermost edge of lip 90 is spaced from the surface of band 32 a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of the label. When a label such as indicated at 94 is drawn through the device, the leading edge is deflected by the lip 90 into engagement with the band 32 and, since the uppermost surface of band 32 is disposed above the lowermost edge of lip 90, the label is caused to travel a tortuous path in contact with band 32. The label is thereby .effectively wetted over its entire gummed surface and, at the same time, the guide plate 36 is retained in a dry condition throughout its extent so that the next label is not wetted on the ungurnined side thereof by the guide plate.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a wetting device for gummed labels which is designed to effectively wet the entire gummed surface of the label without wetting the guide plate. The tortuous path through which the label is caused to travel in contact with the wetting band 32 insures complete wetting of both the forward and rear edge of the label. The inability to wet these edge portions of a label has been the difficulty with various types of label-wetting devices with which I am familiar. The wetting device is furthermore very easily manipulated and the forms illustrated in Figs. 1 through 3 are conveniently arranged so that the entire wetting mechanism may be lifted out of the reservoir with the cover as a unit. The novel moistening means in the form of the rollers 28 and 3G encircled by the band 32 insures a fresh moistening surface whenever desired.

We claim:

1. A device for moistening gumrned labels comprising a reservoir, a roller supported at the upper end of the reservoir with a generally horizontal its axis disposed in plane, and an endless band of absorbent material encircling said roller and depending at its lower end into said reservoir, a second roller positioned within the loop at the lower end of said endless band, said second roller being fioatingly carried by said endless band, means forming a label-supporting surface disposed adjacent and at a level slightly below the uppermost surface of said first roller, and a plate pivoted on said reservoir on an axis parallel to the axis of said first roller and having a pad on one face thereof, said pad being formed of an absorb-- ent material and said plate being positioned such that it is arranged to be pivoted toward said roller such that said pad lies in tangential contact with said endless band on the surface of said first roller.

2. A device for moistening gummed labels comprising a reservoir open at its upper end, a cover for closing said upper end of said reservoir, said cover providing an elongated opening in the upper end of said reservoir, a roller supported in said elongated opening with its axis substantially horizontally disposed and with its uppermost surface projecting above the plane of said cover, means for conducting water from said reservoir to the surface of said roller, a plate pivoted on said cover on an axis generally parallel to the axis of said roller, and a pad carried by said plate, said pad being formed of absorbent material and said plate being arranged to be pivoted toward the surface of said roller such that said pad contacts said roller and is wetted thereby.

3. A device for wetting gummed labels comprising a reservoir having a top wall and an elongated opening in said top wall, means on said top wall forming upwardly opening recesses at each end of said elongated opening, a roller provided with an axle projecting outwardly from each end of said roller, the ends of said axle being journalled in said upwardly opening recesses, means for wetting the surface of said roller with water from said reservoir, a guide plate pivotally supported on said top wall on an axis generally parallel to the axis of said roller, said guide plate having an arcuate portion overlying said roller, said guide plate having at each end thereof a depending lug which projects downwardly into contact with the end portions of said axle, said lugs serving to maintain said portion of said guide plate overlying said roller in a position spaced from the peripheral surface of said roller whereby when said axle is lifted even slightly it engages said lugs and pivots said guide plate upwardly to prevent contact between said roller and guide plate.

4. A device for moistening gummed labels comprising a reservoir having generally upright side walls and being open at its upper end, a cover supported on the upper edges of said side walls for closing the upper end of said reservoir, said cover having an elongate opening therein, a roller sup-- ported on said cover in said elongate opening with its axis substantially horizontally disposed, a second roller spaced vertically below said first roller, and an endless band encircling the upper portion of said first roller and depending therefrom in loop fashion, said second roller being supported in the loop formed by the lower portion of said endless band, said endless band being formed of a material which absorbs water, said endless band extending downwardly to adjacent the bottom of said reservoir, said second roller being of suflicient weight to cause said band to assume a taut condition around said rollers and engage the surface of the first roller with sufficient friction to cause said band to travel around said rollers when the first roller is rotated.

5. A device for moistening gummed labels comprising a reservoir having generally upright side walls and being open at its upper end, a cover supported on the upper edges of said side walls for closing the upper end of said reservoir, said cover having an elongate opening therein, said cover having a socket adjacent each end of said elongate opening, at least one of said sockets opening in an upward direction, an axle extending across said elongate opening and having its opposite ends journalled in said sockets, a roller mounted on said axle, said axle supporting said roller in said elongate opening with its axis substantially horizontally disposed, a second roller spaced vertically below said first roller, an endless band encircling the upper portion of said first roller and supporting said second roller therebelow, said cover having a wall member depending from the underside thereof adjacent each end of said elongate opening, said wall members extending downwardly to said second roller and being spaced apart to accommodate said second roller therebetween an thereby prevent axial displacement of said second roller.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the portions of said last mentioned wall members adjacent said second roller are provided with 0pposed projections for preventing substantial lateral displacement of said second roller.

7. A device for moistening gummed labels comprising a reservoir open at its upper end, a cover for closing said upper end of said reservoir, said cover providing an elongated opening at the upper end of said reservoir, a roller supported in said elongated opening with its axis substantially horizontally disposed, a second roller spaced vertically below said first roller, and an endless band encircling the upper portion of said first roller and supporting said second roller, said endless band being formed of a material which absorbs water and being retained in frictional engagement with the surface of said first roller by the weight of said second roller such that said band is caused to travel around said rollers when said first roller is rotated, said cover being provided with upwardly opening recesses at opposite ends thereof, said first roller being fixed on an axle which extends outwardly beyond the ends of the first roller, said end portions of said axle being journalled in said recesses, and a guide plate pivotally supported on said cover and having a portion overlying said first roller, said guide plate having downwardly projecting lugs at each end thereof, said lugs being disposed such as to contact said end portions of said axle and serving to support said guide plate such that the portion of the guide plate overlying said first roller is maintained in spaced relation to said first roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 61,333 Hill Feb. 5, 1867 474,174 Kingsley May 3, 1892 703,771 Duncan July 1, 1902 1,250,791 Brownson Dec. 18, 1917 1,705,450 Mullen Mar. 12, 1929 2,085,862 Lee July 6, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 519,561 Great Britain Mar. 29, 1940 

